Press the arrow to listen to Matt Redman sing with Hillsong London “Greatest Gift” while reading today’s devotion on God’s provision.

Scripture
And he called to him two of the centurions and said, “Get two hundred soldiers ready by the third hour of the night to proceed to Caesarea, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen.” Acts 23:23

Observation
Four-hundred and seventy soldiers marching with one missionary handcuffed in the middle. It must have been quite a sight to watch Paul being escorted in the dead of night out of Jerusalem and up the highway to the safety of Caesarea.

The Father knows how to care for his own. Paul had a promise from the Lord that he would take the gospel to the centre of the empire, to the city of Rome. God alone would get him there, funded by the Roman taxpayers.

God does have a sense of humour in getting his work done. There were many ways he could have funded this missionary journey. Only the Father could manage to get the Roman government to foot the bill and arrange for a personal interview with the Caesar.

Application
I don’t need a contingent of 470 soldiers at the moment, but there are unfulfilled promises that the Father has made to me. I want to see them accomplished. It’s reassuring to know that God has so many alternatives at his disposal. There are times I try to think up how God can pull of a hoped for answer to prayer. But such fantasies I think must frustrate the Lord. His ways are far more interesting if I’ll just ask and be patient.

Prayer
Father, as you have delivered Paul, so too deliver me and usher me into your purposes. Amen.